When Owens wanted more money from Coloradans he went out and campaigned for Referendums C and D.  In other words he asked us to help out the states finances.  Ref C passed while D didn't.  But the former Governor was willing to spend political capital on potentially unpopular measures to get things done.  Ritter, on the other hand, is more autocratic in his approach.  Maybe he's fearful that he doesn't have the kind of pull in his first term with the electorate that Bill Owens had during his last years.  With Democratic control of the State House there shouldn't be any problem with getting measures placed on the ballot.  But instead he institutes a fee that will adversely affect those in the lower income brackets that the Democrats always claim to represent.   I think it shows a real unwillingness on Ritters part to fight for anything substantial.  With the budget in such bad shape, you could make a real argument for a raise in taxes to help out, if you had the stomach for the fight to do so.